Jimmy Smith, Scott Hill
9:53

Former NRL players Jimmy Smith and Scott Hill preview game two of the State of Origin series as Daly Cherry-Evans looms as a potential starter for Queensland despite his injury worries.

Fox Sports

17 Jun 2014

Sport/NRL/State of Origin

Jarryd Hayne of the Blues celebrates victory during game one of the State of Origin series.Source: Getty Images

SPORTS fans, are you ready? Tonight is going to be huge.

With Game 2 of State of Origin kicking off at 8pm, and the Socceroos’ World Cup blockbuster against Netherlands at 2am, most sports-mad Australians will be in a world of pain come Thursday.

Luckily, we’ve prepared some expert tips to help you survive this mammoth evening (and a rough morning).

1. PACE YOURSELF

Australian fans celebrate a Tim Cahill goal against Chile while watching the World Cup.Source: Getty Images

While there may be one or two drinking games on the horizon tonight, sports doctor Nathan Gibbs, says it’s vital to pace yourself or you could miss all the action.

“Be careful of how much alcohol you have because you might fall asleep,” Dr Gibbs said.

“A caffeine shot at the end of each half like the players do could be the way to go.”

2. FIND A SAFE CELEBRATING SPACE

England physiotherapist, Gary Lewin, is stretchered off the field after a leg injury.Source: Getty Images

Although it may be very exciting seeing New South Wales break their eight year State of Origin series drought, you don’t want to end up like England’s physiotherapist at the World Cup, Gary Lewin. When Daniel Sturridge equalised against Italy in their group match. Lewin’s enthusiastic celebration led to him dislocating and breaking his ankle on a nearby water bottle. Don’t make that mistake.

“It’s very important to have a safe area to jump up and down and celebrate or watching and supporting can be quite dangerous,” Dr Gibbs said.

If you worked today, and intend on completing the epic 8pm-4am sports binge watching Origin and the Socceroos tonight, the average person would have been awake for 20 hours. That’s a brutal amount of time to stay awake. To help you manage the task and outlast your mates, there are some things you can do.

“It’s critical to have good nutrition throughout the day,” Dr Gibbs said.

“And an afternoon nap is ideal if you can get a couple of hours after lunch.”

While watching sports the resting muscle tension of supporters is higher due to the stress of watching the game too. So to avoid injury and help your muscles prepare for celebrating, Dr Gibbs recommends an afternoon swim to help metabolise those muscles.

You might bleed Blue but if Queensland win Game 2 and force a decider, don’t take the loss personally. Devoted sports supporters can get so swept up in the result that it ends up affecting their mental health.

“They need to give themselves a reality check to see that despite the loss, the sun comes up again in the morning and you just have to move along,” prominent psychologist Dr Sandy Gordon said.

“There are some fans who internalise their disappointment and brood, and that needs to be tempered with a dose of reality.”

5. STEER CLEAR OF GLOATERS

A Netherlands fan poses with a replica of the World Cup trophy during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.Source: Getty Images

A common psychological condition among sports fans is called ‘BIRGing’ or ‘Basking in Reflective Glory’. It’s what takes hold of a supporter when they deck themselves in team colours, and take on the success of the team to help them feel better about themselves. Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, for the highs this psychological state can produce, Dr Gordon says fans need to be wary of how they cope should the result not go their way.

“The opposite reaction happens when you lose, so steer clear of those at the office who might take great joy in reminding you of the loss,” he said.

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